Winooski school raises over $4,000 for Malletts Bay fire victims

The Winooski School District has raised over $4,000 so far as part of a fundraiser for the victims of an apartment fire that displaced 21 city residents last Thursday night, Superintendant Sean McMannon said.

Six students were directly affected and displaced by the Malletts Bay Avenue blaze while two other students had family members who were affected, McMannon said.

The Winooski district offices are collecting cash and check donations only, according to McMannon.

“We’re trying to really streamline it to cash and check donations so that the families can really get exactly what they need, and in particular that students impacted would be able to get the clothing that they want,” McMannon said.

McMannon said Wednesday that the fundraiser had begun the day after the fire, and the district has mainly gotten word out through its website, a post on the Front Porch Forum website, and through emails within the school.

“I think it’s tremendous ... it’s a really nice mix of people from within the school, staff and parents and including people in the community and folks outside of the Winooski community that read about it or saw about the fire and they decided that they wanted to do something to help,” McMannon said.

An outpouring of support from the community was received almost immediately after the fire, McMannon said. After being contacted by individuals and organizations like the Community College of Vermont, the school took the reins on fundraising efforts.

“We have people who have really strong relationships with the students, and we would be able to work with them and their families and make sure that the kids had the clothing and the immediate items that they needed that we would be best positioned to do that,” McMannon said.

Bon Ton, a store in the University Mall in South Burlington, also donated “50 percent off” coupons to victims so they could purchase clothing and other essentials, McMannon said.

Since Thanksgiving, 21 families and 60 people have been displaced from their homes because of fires, according to a news release issued by the Vermont and the New Hampshire Upper Valley Region Red Cross Wednesday. The Red Cross, who assisted in relief efforts for the victims Thursday, said fire is “the disaster most likely to befall someone in our region.”

“With winter yet to officially begin, the Red Cross is imploring the people of our region to keep safe through the use of caution and planning,” the news release said, urging residents to regularly check smoke detectors; form a fire plan; use caution with portable heaters, stoves and fireplaces; and maintain heating sources, like pellet stoves.

Though McMannon said there is no specific monetary goal for the fundraiser, city manager Katherine “Deac” Decarreau said Winooski citizens have been “extraordinarily generous.”

“The generosity is overwhelming, and from all areas from the community,” Decarreau said. “It’s really heartwarming.”

Donations to victims of the Malletts Bay Avenue apartment fire can be sent to JFK, Main Lobby, Middle School-High School or District or mailing to WSD, 60 Normand Street, Winooski, VT 05404. Checks can be made out to: WSD-MBA Fire Support.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@burlingtonfreepress.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LizMurraySMC.